Automatic violin-piano.



C. MARTINI.

AUTOMATIC VIOLIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21.1913. 1,228,339. Patented May 29, 1917.

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AUTOMATIC VIOLIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2I, 1913.

1,228,339. Patented May 29,1917.

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C. MARTINI.

AUTOMATIC VIOLIN PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED APR.21,1913.

1,228,339. Patented May 29, 1917.

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ATTEIRNEYEI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CEASAR MARTINI, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEV YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC VIOLIN-PIANO.

Application filed April 21, 1913.

1' b all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, (Jensen MARTINI, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Violin-Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to that class of automatic violins in which the strings are vibrated by traveling endless bow-bands or belts.

One of the objects of my invention is to improve the construction of the devices for pressing the bow-bands against the strings with a view of promptly presenting them flatwise to the strings, in order to obtain full, rich tones instead of the thin, whistling tones produced when the bands are first presented edgewise to the strings.

Further objects are to so construct the guiding devices of. the bands that one or more of them can be readily removed for repair or renewal without disturbing the rest; to provide improved rosining means for the bands; to provide the instrument with a simple tremolo device, and to improve the construction of the instrument in other respects, as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of the instrument. Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation thereof, with the front plate of the case removed. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the instrument omitting the rear plate. Fig. 4: is a horizontal section on line 1-4:, Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a sectional perspective view of one of the bow-bands and its guidin and controlling devices. Fig. 6 is an enlarged. front view of a number of the rocking guide rollers of the bands.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

1 indicates the hollow body or sounding board of the violin, preferably supported in an upright position in the case 2 of the instrument, parallel with the front wall. The strings 3 of the violin are stretched over the usual bridges 4:, the instrument having a separate string for each tone.

5 indicates the endless bow-bands or belts, for each string; which pas around hori- Patented May 29, 1917.

Serial No. 762,568.

Zontal rollers 6 and 7 supported on the front and rear sides of the sounding board, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1. The rear roller 7 is journaled in iixed bearings 8, while the front roller 6 is preferably sectional or composed of a series of separate rollers which are movable toward and from said fixed roller and constantly drawn away from the latter by springs 9 to keep the bow-bands taut. In the construction shown, each of the roller sections 6 is removably journaled in the notched upper ends of a pair of arms 10 pivoted at their lower ends to a fixed supporting; rail 11. These arms are held in their normal position by sectional links 12 pivoted to the arms and pfuided in the upright flange of said rail, the springs 9 surrounding these links between said fiance and adjusting nuts 13 on the front ends of the links, as best shown in Fig. 5.

In order to permit a close spacing of the strings and the interveningbands the latter are twisted between their guiding rollers to a position substantially parallel with the strings. The lower run of each band is held in this position by a pair of stationary guide rollers 14 mounted on a fixed transverse rail 15. Each of the upper runs is twisted by a pair of depending rollers 16 carried by a head 17 which is secured to the rear end of a horizontal rock shaft 18 arranged lengthwise of the band and supported on fixed rails 19, whereby upon turning said shafts in the proper direction, the upper runs of the traveling bands are deflected against the corresponding strings and caused to sound them. These rock shafts may be actuated by any suitable appliances c0ntrolled by automatic selecting mechanism,

' such as a tracker board 20 and a music sheet 21. In the construction shown in the drawings, the cranked front ends 22 of said rock shafts are actuated by motor pneumatics 23 through the customary abstracts 24, and the pneumatios are controlled by the usual valves 25 in the wind chest 26 which may be of any suitable construction. Preferably, this chest is located in front of the sounding board. and the abstracts and their usual regulating buttons 27 are arranged on the front side of the chest, as shown in Figs. 1 an 2, y which arra ge t the e can be conveniently assembled and are easy of access, for regulating purposes.

In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawings, the line of the axis of each rock shaft intersects the respective string, and the deflecting rollers 16 stand normally obliquely to the strings, as shown in Fig. 6. By this construction, when a rock shaft is actuated, the corresponding band is turned parallel with the string before being pressed against it, thus presenting the band flatwise to the string and producing a full, rich tone rather than a thin whistling sound which is liable to occur when the band is first presented edgewise to the string.

The sectional construction of the front guide roller 6 affords the advantage of per mitting the convenient removal and renewal of the bands in small groups without the necessity of disturbing the remaining bands, thus effecting a material saving of time.

In order to obtain the most satisfactory results, the tension of the bow-bands is preferably graduated from the bass to the treble strings, being greatest in the high treble and least in the low bass, whereby the pressure of the bands is adapted to the tension of the strings. At the same time the deflectin g rollers 16 are adjusted to exert a graduated pressure against the bands which is greater in the bass than in the treble, this regulation of pressure being effected by the customary adjusting devices of the abstracts The tension of the several groups of bands is regulated by the adjusting nuts 13.

A suitable tremolo device for imitating the shake produced by violinists may be combined with the bow-bands, if desired. The preferred means shown in the drawings comprise a vibrating rail 28 extending horizontally above the upper ends of the abstracts 2% and carrying vertically-adjustable buttons 29, one in line with each abstract, so that any abstracts elevated during the action of the tremolo-rail 28 are correspondingly vibrated and in turn shake the bow bands on the strings. The tremolo rail is carried by vertically-swinging arms 30 secured to a rock shaft 31 supported by the rails 19. A spring 32 effects the upward stroke of the tremolo rail while a pneumatic 33 connected therewith by an abstract moves it in the opposite direction. pneumatic may be actuated by any suitable device 35, that shown in the drawings being the well known pneumatic tremolo action used for automatically playing snare-drums and Xylophones and controlled by the music sheet in the usual manner.

The bow-bands may be driven by any suitable means. In the construction shown. the rear guide-roller 7 is driven from an electric motor 36 through a countershaft 37 and belts 38 and 39.

A suitable device for applying rosin to This the bow-bands is employed. That shown in the drawings consists of a vibratory rail 18 arranged crosswise of the several bands underneath their lower runs and having a facing of leather or other suitable material which receives the resin. This rail is pivotally attached by pins 49 to the front ends of a pair of arms or levers 50 pivoted to a horizontal rock shaft 51 at to vibrate lat-- orally thereon. At their rear ends these levers are pivotally connected by a link 53 having a pin or rearward pro]ection M with which engages the upper arm of a bell cra. l' 55 which in turn is rocked by a rank all on the counter shaft 37 through a link 57, the bell crank being actuated continuously during the playing of the instrument. The upper arm of the bell crank has a loop or opening provided with a narrow lower portion 58 just wide enough to receive the pin 5*! of the rosining rail so as to vibrate the latter when swung upagainst the bowbands. lVhen the rosining rail is lowered to its inoperative position, the pin Til occupies the enlarged upper portion 50 of said loop, said upper portion being so wide as to allow the bell crank to vibrate without actuating said pin and the rouin rail. spring (30 tends to rock the shaft 51. to press the rosining rail against the bands, this spring being connected by a link (31 to a rock arm (52 rigidly secured to said shaft. This shaft is rocked in the opposite direction by a, crank or handle (53 secured to a second rock shaft 64 carrying a rock arm (35 which is connected with the arm 2 by a link as. The handle 63 is retained in the position shown in the drawings by a pin (33, or any other suitable means. In this position the rosin ing rail is held down in its inoperative position, its actuating pin it occupying the wide opening 59 of the bell crank 55, as shown in Fig. 3, allowing the rosining rail to remain at rest. Upon releasing the bandle G8 the spring 0 elevates said rail against these bands at the same time lowering the pin 54 into the narrow opening 58 of said lever and throwing the rail into gear with its vibrating mechanism. i

If desired, the tremolo rail 99 may also be used as a stop for temporarily limiting or shortening the upward stroke of the abstracts 24 to cause the bow bands to engage the strings with diminished fore. and produce tones in imitation of staccato or the short and quick movements of a violin bow in performing very rapid passages. For this purpose, a supplemental or stop-pneumatic ()7 is ireferably combined with the tremolo pneumatic 33, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The arm (38 carried by the movable board of said stop-pneumatic overlaps the corresponding board of the tremolo pneu matic, so that when the stop pneumaticis collapsed to a predetermined extent, it depresses the tren'iolorail 28 accordingly through the movable board of the tremolo pneumatic and the link 34-, wher-doy the buttons 29 of said rail prevent a full stroke of the abstracts 24, with the result just men tioned. 'l. he stop pneumatic is controlled by a corresponding tracker duct and a row of perforations in the music sheet and an auX- iliary wind chest 69 containing a pneumatic action 70 similar to the main actions 5,

The instrument is preferably provided with an expression device operating to cut oil the suction from the main wind chest 26 to a greater or less degree. In the construction illustrated in the drawings and best shown in Fig. 2, a regulating slide or valve Tl is interposed in the wind trunk or tube leading from the main suction bellows 72 to the wind-chest, the sections of said tube being designated 73 and 74. The adjacent ends of these sections terminate at the face of a fixed valve board 75 against which the valve 71 is pressed by a spring 76. This valve is provided in its face with a groove or port 77 which fully connects the adja cent ends of the tube sections 73 and 74, in the position of the valve shown in Fig. 2, while cutting off or covering the end of one of the tube-sections more or less when the valve is shifted toward the right to a greater or less extent, thereby diminishing the tension in the wind chests and causing the instrument to play more softly owing to the reduced pressure upon the bow-bands. referably, the expression valve is actuated by a pair of oppositely-acting pneumatics 78 and 79 through a slide 80. In the construction shown, said valve-operating pneumatics are controlled by the music sheet and tracker and pneumatic actions 81, in the supplemental wind chest 82. If desired, the valve 71 may be operated by hand instead of automatically.

l claim as my invention:

1. An instrument of the character described, comprising vibratory strings, endless bow-bands cooperating therewith, front and rear guide rollers for the said bands, one of said rollers consisting of separate sections, and independent tensionregulating devices for said several roller-sections.

2. In an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, means for moving the bands against the strings, a wind chest arranged horizontally below said bands, motor pneumatics for actuating said band-moving means, arranged beneath the wind-chest, and upright abstracts connecting said pneumatics with said band-moving means and arranged on the front side of said wind chest.

3. In an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, a pair of guides for each bow band, and rockqnembers carrying said guides, the axis of each of said rock members intersecting the respective string.

In automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, and a row of rock shafts each carrying a pair of deflecting rollers for the cerrcspemling band, the line of the axis of each of said shafts intersecting the respective string.

in an automatic violin, the combina tion of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, means for pressing the bands against the strings, motor pneumatics, abst rots connecting said band-pressing means with said pneumatics, a tremolo rail arranged to engage said abstracts, and means for vibrating said rail.

3. In an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating th with, means for pressing the bands a ainst the strings, motor pneumatics, abstracts connecting said bandpressing means with said pncumatics, a rail extending across the ends of said abstracts and movable toward and from the same, and means for controlling said rail.

i. in an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, mcans for pressing the bands against the strings, motor pneumatics, ah-

.i acts connecting said band-pressing means with said pneumaties, a combined tremolo and stop-rail ar anged to engage said aba main pneumatic for actuating said rail, and a step-pneumatic cooperating with said main pneumatic to limit its stroke and that of the tremolo rail.

8. instrument of the character described, comprising vibratory strings, means for vibrating the same, motor pneumatics, abstracts for iiransmitting motion from said pneumatics to said vibrating tremolo rail arranged to engage said abstracts, and means for vibrating said rail.

9. in an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, a rosining member movable into and out of contact with said bands and capabio of reciprocating crosswise thereof, constantlv-moving means for reciprocating said rosining member, and means for connecting said member with said reciprorosining eating means when the member is in contact with said bands and for disconnecting said member from said reciprocating means when the member 1s out of contact with the bands 10. In an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, a vibratory rosining member movable into and out of contact with said bands and having a projection, and an acmeans, a

tiiating lever having an opening provided with eormnunicating wide and narrow p0rtions adapted to receive said projection.

11. In an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, a roclranember, a rosining rail carried by said member and movable to ward and from said bands, and an actuating lever having an opening provided with communicating wide and narrow portions, said rock member having a pin arranged in said opening.

12. In an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, a rock shaft arranged crosswise of said bands, laterally-swinging arms pivoted to said rock shaft, a rosining rail connecting said arms and pivotally attached Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each,

thereto, means for rocking said shaft to swin said rail toward and from the bands, and means for vibratin said rail crosswise of the bands.

13. In an automatic violin, the combination of the strings, bow-bands cooperating therewith, a rock shaft arranged crosswise of said bands a rosining rail carried by said shaft and. movable toward and from said. bands, a spring tending to swing said rail toward said bands, and means for holding the rail away from the bands.

\Vitness'my hand this 8th day of April,

CDASAR ALXRTINI. .lvitnesses C. F. Germ, E. U. GRAHAM.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

